Japanese govt to study 2 additional missile defense systems

25 Novembre 2013 , Rédigé par ileridefense Publié dans #Asie

The government will next fiscal year begin studying the introduction of two new interceptor missile systems, which have been developed and deployed in the United States, to make the nation’s missile defense more multilayered to improve its capability to deal with North Korean ballistic missiles, according to sources.

The government will study the introduction of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system and the ground-based Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) system.

Japan’s missile defense system is designed on the premise that enemy missiles are intercepted in flight by SM-3 interceptor missiles fired from Aegis destroyers or by ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile units.

The THAAD system is capable of shooting down ballistic missiles in space and in the upper atmosphere on reentry. It can deal with missiles over wider areas, even if SM-3 missiles fail to intercept enemy ballistic missiles.

The ground-based SM-3 units are able to deal with missiles whenever they may be fired, because it is not necessary to deploy them aboard Aegis destroyers.

Using Aegis destroyers to intercept enemy missiles is difficult over the long term because two or more Aegis destroyers must always be deployed in the Sea of Japan.

As each PAC-3 unit can defend an area only tens of kilometers wide, some defense experts have pointed out holes in the nation’s defense system.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera on Saturday visited the Air Self-Defense Force’s Kyogamisaki Sub Base in Kyotango, Kyoto Prefecture, where a TPY-2 early-warning radar, known as X-band radar, will be established.

An X-band radar is capable of detecting the launch of a ballistic missile more quickly then conventional types.

After inspecting the base, Onodera told reporters: “As we speak, North Korea is continuing technological development of its missiles. Unless the accuracy of radar improves, [Japan’s] defense system will be adversely affected. It’s important to enhance our systems.”

Currently, one X-band radar is set up in Aomori Prefecture. But U.S. forces decided to deploy another X-band radar partly because North Korea succeeded in developing a long-range ballistic missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.

Though the new X-band radar will be operated by U.S. forces, information about missile launches will also be provided to Japan.

By The Yomiuru Shimbun

Missile Threat.com

2013.11.14

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